Has BMW positioned the 1 series to take over for what the 3 series/M3 used to be?

[gmund1948]

Its FUgly in the hatchback form, but handles very very well with light mods

If you havent driven one (especially a track prepared one) you cannot pass judgement now can you.

Having owned 2002s and an E-30 I can tell you that the one series in the coupe with a 300 HP Motor like in our E-93 will be closer to the E30 EVO
I have spent a lot of time in.

The Diesel 1 series in race form will easily stay with the M e-30.

Do I wish it was 500 lbs lighter YES but you might just fall in love
again

I own 50s, 60s, 70s Porsches that are incredible performers, and their
Cayman is a gem but for more than an M-3 ?

Porsche actually has BMW build their body skins on subcontract after
the last of the 993s ended in 98, they are much different than the early
cars.

I think you might like the 1, its closest to where this whole M thing started

[Caravello]

Originally Posted by gmund1948

a M-3 in Great Britain costs 6oK Pounds or 120K USDollars

How many Americans will spend 120 large for an M-3 not me

But the pound is twice the value of the dollar, so 120K pounds gets you the same "basket of goods" (old economic speak) as $60K gets you in the USA.

The bigger problem is the Euro since the value of the Euro more or less began at the same value of the dollar but recently the two have been separating. In other words, a dollar in USA used to get you about the same thing as a Euro in Europe. Five years ago say. The pound and the dollar diverged a long time ago, and they have little interrelationship.

[gmund1948]

Originally Posted by Caravello

But the pound is twice the value of the dollar, so 120K pounds gets you the same "basket of goods" (old economic speak) as $60K gets you in the USA.

The bigger problem is the Euro since the value of the Euro more or less began at the same value of the dollar but recently the two have been separating. In other words, a dollar in USA used to get you about the same thing as a Euro in Europe. Five years ago say. The pound and the dollar diverged a long time ago, and they have little interrelationship.

Point is in the UK as well as in the EU the motoring taxes, insurance and fuel
in the UK put the M-3 in a category equal in affordability to a American buying a $80-90K car

The Euro is utterly amazing as my US diplomatic spec 335 Vert was $48K USD
or 37K Euro and the same car was $65K Euro or 87K USD

My guess is the M-3 will be even more crazy,

Problem is because the Euro is so strong the US PRICES will be much higher
than if the dollar was on par with the Euro

THis will definately give the Japanese a leg up as the Yen is really in the Toilet and the price differece between European and Japanese performance cars could definately favor the Japanese for a long while

Amazing however is the 08 Vette that cost me $45K with options is
87K Euros here thats $110K USD

Go Figure